Effect of peroxisome proliferation and salt stress on enhancing the potential of microalgae as biodiesel feedstock

Wei Wang, Yunzhuan Xue, Bingze Li, Xiajule Sheng, Yongxin Shi, Qiqi Zou, Jing Li, Tong Li, Xianhua Wang and Jiao Xue

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025, vol. 212, issue C

Abstract: Microalgae are widely recognized as leading producers of third-generation biofuels. However, the industrialization of microalgae biodiesel faces significant challenges, primarily concerning efficiency and cost. A key bottleneck is the scarcity of energy-efficient, high-yielding, and resilient algal strains. To address this issue, this study investigated the role of the pivotal gene, Peroxin 11 (PEX11), involved in the formation of peroxisomes oxidative organelles ubiquitously present and associated with lipid metabolism and stress response. This study aimed to uncover the potential functions of PEX11 in lipid accumulation and salt stress response in Tetradesmus obliquus, utilizing PEX11-1 overexpression strains. Consistent with most reports, PEX11-1 was found to be localized in peroxisomes and potentially contributed to peroxisome proliferation in microalgae. The results revealed that overexpression of PEX11-1 positively impacted lipid accumulation, facilitated by the regulation of reactive oxygen species levels, the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes, and the redistribution of carbon precursors. The neutral lipid content in PEX11-1 overexpressing algal strains increased 2–3 times, with lipid yield escalating to 284.4 mg L−1 and cellular biomass reaching 902.3 mg L−1. Notably, under salt stress, the neutral lipid content per unit cell in the transformed line was nearly 4-fold higher than that of the WT. In addition, the overexpression of PEX11-1 hindered the involvement of lipid droplets in membrane remodeling and cell division, thereby diminishing the salt stress tolerance of T. obliquus. In conclusion, these findings emphasize the crucial role of PEX11 in microalgal lipid metabolism and offer insights into creating lipid-producing algal strains through genetic engineering.

Keywords: Tetradesmus obliquus; Peroxin 11; Lipid accumulation; NaCl stress; Reactive oxygen species (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032125000711
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:rensus:v:212:y:2025:i:c:s1364032125000711

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 600126/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115398

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is currently edited by L. Kazmerski

More articles in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().